> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.dspremote.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Why 10Micron Mounts Suit a Remote Observatory - URL: https://www.dspremote.com/10micron-mount-remote-observatory/ - Published: 2026-10-05T12:48:52.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-05T12:48:52.000Z - Description: Absolute encoders that survive a power cut and a pointing model that tracks without guiding. Why 10Micron mounts fit remote hosting. - Author: Edward Thomas - Tags: Deep Space Blog, Remote Hosting, 10Micron, #needs-images 10Micron mounts suit remote observatories because their absolute encoders always know where the telescope is pointing, and a good pointing model lets them track accurately enough to image without a guide camera. That removes the two things that most often end a night early at a remote site: a lost home position and a failed guiding loop. Here's how that works in practice, and how a 10Micron rig fits into a DSP Remote pier. ## Quick facts - DSP Remote is an offshoot of Deep Space Products, the primary U.S. 10Micron dealer and the certified 10Micron service center for North America. - Co-founder Ed Thomas has 16+ years of telescope and mount repair, servicing and upgrades. - Buy a new 10Micron mount from Deep Space Products and host it at DSP Remote, and you get 5% off the mount. - GM1000 and GM2000 rigs typically fall in the Large Kit ($500/mo, swing up to 74 in). GM3000 and GM4000 rigs typically fall in the Extra-Large Kit ($550/mo, swing up to 86 in). - The site has true Bortle 1 skies at 4,240 ft, with over 286 clear nights a year (site average). - Supported software includes NINA, SGP, ACP and TheSkyX. ## Why do 10Micron mounts work well in a remote observatory? They remove the steps that need a person in the room. The HPS models (GM1000, GM2000, GM3000 and GM4000) carry high-precision absolute encoders on both axes, connect over Ethernet, and track from an internal pointing model instead of a guide star. On any mount, most remote failures come down to a short list: - The mount loses track of where it's pointing after a power interruption or a stalled slew. - Guiding fails because clouds pass, the guide star drops out after a meridian flip, or the guide camera's USB connection hangs. - A USB hub or serial adapter between the PC and the mount stops responding. - The cable wrap snags because the rig rotated somewhere nobody tested. A 10Micron mount addresses the first three in hardware. The fourth is on you, and we'll get to it in the shipping checklist below. Because the encoders read each axis directly, the mount corrects gear error as it happens rather than relying on a trained periodic error curve. The Ethernet port means the imaging PC talks to the mount over the network, so one fewer device hangs off a USB hub. And the mount slews quickly (10Micron rates the GM2000 HPS II at adjustable speeds from 2 to 20 degrees per second), which shortens meridian flips and target changes on a busy sequence. ## Can a 10Micron mount image without guiding? Yes. With a well-built pointing model and good polar alignment, 10Micron mounts track accurately enough that most owners image unguided. 10Micron rates the GM2000 HPS II at about 0.6 arcsec RMS tracking with a 25-star model that compensates for flexure and polar alignment error. Owners commonly report round stars in unguided subs of five to ten minutes, and longer at short and moderate focal lengths. Your own limit depends on image scale, how stiff the optical train is, and how well the model matches the rig on the night. For a remote rig, going unguided pays off in three ways: 1. You drop the guide camera, its cable and its driver, which is one fewer thing that can hang at 2 a.m. 2. Passing clouds don't cause a guiding failure that stops the sequence. When the sky clears, the next sub simply starts. 3. Post-flip recovery is faster because there's no guide star to reacquire. Guiding is still available. Long focal length reflectors with mirror shift sometimes benefit from it on top of the model. Seeing matters here too. Our spot checks during real imaging sessions show a median of 1.4 to 1.9 arcsec FWHM at zenith, so a mount tracking well under an arcsecond RMS isn't the limiting factor on most nights. The live seeing forecast and all-sky camera are on our [Site Conditions page](https://www.dspremote.com/conditions/). ## How many points should a 10Micron pointing model have? For a permanent remote pier, plan on 50 to 100 points. 10Micron's own tracking spec assumes a 25-star model, which is fine for short focal lengths, but more points spread across the sky give the mount a better map of flexure and cone error for long focal lengths and long subs. The mount accepts up to 100 alignment stars. You don't build the model by hand. Software slews the mount to each point, takes a short exposure, plate solves it and sends the result to the mount. MountWizzard4, a free tool written for 10Micron mounts, is the most common choice and runs alongside NINA. You can find it on the [MountWizzard4 GitHub page](https://github.com/mworion/MountWizzard4?ref=dspremote.com). A rough guide we'd suggest for your own planning: | Image scale | Example rig | Suggested model | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ---------------- | | 3+ arcsec/pixel | 80 mm refractor, ZWO ASI2600 | 25 to 40 points | | 1 to 2 arcsec/pixel | 130 mm refractor or 11 in reflector | 50 to 70 points | | Under 1 arcsec/pixel | PlaneWave CDK17 or similar | 80 to 100 points | Rebuild the model when anything in the optical train changes: a new camera, a filter wheel swap, a different focuser position for a new reducer. Flexure is what the model learns, so a changed rig needs a fresh map. One setting is easy to miss at a high site. The mount corrects for atmospheric refraction using temperature and pressure values, and our site sits at 4,240 ft, where air pressure is noticeably lower than the sea-level default. Set the pressure for the site, or let your software feed it live from a weather sensor. ## What happens to a 10Micron mount after a power failure? It comes back knowing exactly where it's pointing. The absolute encoders report each axis position the moment power returns, so there's no homing routine, no plate solve to recover the position, and no risk of the mount slewing into the pier because it thinks it's somewhere else. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/5c/ac5c2bd9-4299-47d6-94f0-460f5567d535/content/images/2026/10/IMG_6573.jpeg) Without absolute encoders, recovery after a power cut or PC reboot usually means a homing sequence or a hands-on sync. With a 10Micron, the imaging software reconnects and carries on. Our site also has battery backup, which we wrote about in [Battery Backup for Remote Telescope Hosting Under Bortle 1 Skies](https://www.dspremote.com/battery-backup-for-remote-telescope-hosting-under-bortle-1-skies/). ## Which DSP Remote plan fits a 10Micron rig? Plans are priced by swing diameter, not by mount model, so the telescope and accessories on the mount decide the kit. Our plans list typical pairings, and most 10Micron rigs land in one of three kits. | Kit | Monthly | Swing diameter | Typical 10Micron pairing | | ----------- | ------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Medium | $450 | Up to 62 in | Smaller 10Micron rigs, 100 to 130 mm refractors or reflectors up to 11 in | | Large | $500 | Up to 74 in | GM1000 or GM2000, scopes over 140 mm, reflectors up to a CDK17 | | Extra-Large | $550 | Up to 86 in | GM3000 or GM4000, very large refractors or reflectors up to 24 in | Swing diameter is twice the longest distance from the point where the RA and Dec axes meet to the furthest part of the rig, plus 1 to 2 in for cable slack and focuser travel. Here's a worked example. Say you have a GM2000 carrying a 130 mm refractor with a camera and filter wheel. The furthest point from the axis intersection, the end of the dew shield, is 33 in away. Double it to 66 in, add 2 in for slack, and you get 68 in. That fits the Large Kit at $500 a month. Run your own numbers in the swing calculator on our [Plans and Pricing page](https://www.dspremote.com/plans-and-pricing/). Terms are 6 or 12 months with the rate locked for the term, and there are no hidden fees. ## How do you prepare a 10Micron mount before shipping it to a remote site? Get the mount fully working over the network at home before it leaves. This is the checklist we'd work through on our own rig: 1. Update the mount firmware to the current release and note the version. 2. Connect to the mount over Ethernet from the imaging PC, with no USB or serial link, and confirm NINA (or your sequencer) can slew, park and unpark. 3. Write down the mount's network settings so they can be matched on the observatory network. 4. Build a model with MountWizzard4 and run at least one full night unguided, including a meridian flip. 5. Slew through the full range of both axes with everything cabled, and watch for snags at the pier and the cable wrap. 6. Record your balance positions and counterweight placement so the rig goes back together the same way. 7. Check the 24 V DC supply (on the GM2000 HPS II) and the cable you'll use from it, and pack a spare if you have one. Expect to rebuild the model once the rig is on its pier, since polar alignment and the mounting surface are new. The mount reports its polar alignment error after a short alignment, and you correct it with the altitude and azimuth knobs before the full model run. If you'd rather not do the install yourself, our concierge install add-on ($500 one time, or included with select packages) covers full rig setup, cabling, power, camera alignment, flat panel mounting, a collimation check and initial software configuration. Details are on the [Install and Maintenance page](https://www.dspremote.com/services-install-maintenance/). If you're installing yourself, members can stay free in our on-site bunkhouse (reservations required) and use the tools and workspace on site. ## Who services a 10Micron mount at DSP Remote? A team with direct ties to 10Micron service. DSP Remote is an offshoot of Deep Space Products, the primary U.S. 10Micron dealer and the certified 10Micron service center for North America, and Ed has spent more than 16 years repairing, servicing and upgrading telescopes and mounts. Remote power cycling, system recovery and firmware and software update help are part of our services (additional charges may apply), and support is owner-run with no ticket queue. Most requests are answered in as little as 15 minutes, and within 24 hours at most. If you're still choosing a mount, buying a new 10Micron from Deep Space Products and hosting it here gets you 5% off the mount. You can read more about how we work with these mounts on our [10Micron Advantage page](https://www.dspremote.com/10micron-advantage-at-dsp-remote/), and 10Micron publishes full specifications for each model, such as the [GM2000 HPS II](https://10micron.eu/en/mounts/equatorial-mounts/gm-2000-hps-ii-combi-goto-mount?ref=dspremote.com). ## Frequently asked questions ### Do you need to guide a 10Micron mount? Usually not. With a good pointing model and polar alignment, most owners image unguided, often with subs of five to ten minutes or longer. Guiding is still an option for long focal length reflectors with mirror shift. ### How many points should a 10Micron model have? For a permanent remote pier, 50 to 100 points works well. The mount accepts up to 100 alignment stars, and software such as MountWizzard4 builds the model automatically by plate solving each point. ### Does a 10Micron mount lose its position after a power failure? No. The HPS models have absolute encoders on both axes, so the mount knows where it's pointing as soon as power returns, with no homing or re-sync needed. ### Which DSP Remote plan fits a 10Micron GM2000? Most GM2000 rigs fit the Large Kit at $500 a month (swing diameter up to 74 in). The kit depends on swing diameter, so check yours with the calculator on Plans and Pricing. ### Is there a discount for hosting a 10Micron mount at DSP Remote? Yes. Buy a new 10Micron mount from Deep Space Products and host it at DSP Remote, and you get 5% off the mount. ## Put your 10Micron under a Bortle 1 sky A mount that recovers on its own and tracks without a guide star is the right partner for a site with over 286 clear nights a year. Work out your swing diameter and pick a kit on our [Plans and Pricing page](https://www.dspremote.com/plans-and-pricing/), then reserve your pier. If you have questions about a specific rig, [contact Ed](https://www.dspremote.com/contact/).